FAIRFIELD — A Waterville man has been charged with theft after the search for a stolen utility vehicle took local police to Oxford County and back to a neighboring community.

Police allege that Joey A. Philbrook, 35, of Waterville, stole the side-by-side utility vehicle, and then traded it for the motorcycle. He has been charged with theft, theft by deception and violation of conditions of release.

Philbrook is scheduled for arraignment in November at Skowhegan District Court, according to a news release.

The saga began Aug. 8, when Officer Trevor Knowles of the Fairfield Police Department took a report of the stolen side-by-side utility vehicle on Ridge Road from an area resident, according to a news release from the department. Knowles followed a lead to Oxford County, where he applied for and received a search warrant.

The utility vehicle was recovered Aug. 9 from a property in Stoneham, said Fairfield Police Department Public Information Officer Casey Dugas.

Police determined the buyer in Stoneham did not know the utility vehicle was stolen and had traded a motorcycle for it in good faith. At that time, the motorcycle was entered as stolen by authorities.

On Thursday, the Waterville Police Department recovered the motorcycle in Waterville, leading to the charges against Philbrook.